[Stents: experience at the Cardiology Hospital of the 21st century National Medical Center]

From february 1995 to february 1997 we implanted 157 stents in 105 patients. Age ranged from 38 to 81 years (mean 58), there were 83 males and 22 females. In 62.8% cases we implanted one stent and in 39 (37.2%) cases 2 to 6. Eighty three were Palmaz/Schatz (P/S), 27 ACT-ONE, 18 Wiktor (W), 9 Gianturco Rubin (GR), 8 Wallstent, 6 XT-Bard and 6 microstent. Indication were de novo in 23.8%, 87.5% post failure PTCA and in 13.3% late PTCA restenosis. Implant was successful al 96.1% of the patients. The first 32 patients received oral anticoagulation, the last 72 received aspirin and ticlopidine only.

4.7% acute thrombosis, 0.9% sub-acute thrombosis, three of them (2.5%) developed myocardial infarction, 0.9% emergency surgical treatment, 2.8% vascular complications and death in 2.8%. During follow-up (1 to 18 months, mean 7.7) we repeated angiography and 35 patients two to 14 months (m = 5.6), 12 of them had restenosis, during dilation two cases had dissection of the main left coronary artery and were send to surgery, the others were dilated without complications. One case had restenosis of the stent with obstructive lesions in other vessels and was send to elective surgery. The reminded patients are symptom free and had negative stress test. We conclude that this technology is an excellent alternative to percutaneous myocardial revascularization. Larger trials with long term follow-up is necessary to determine the true incidence of restenosis with the different types of stents.